Ladies and gentlemen, our long wait for hockey is almost over. There is hockey to be played in September, and while it's only the preseason, it's better than having no hockey. To celebrate the occasion, we're kicking off our 2025-26 player previews with America's defender, Jaccob Slavin.
There is no more reliable player in the Hurricanes' system than Slavin. I'd go so far as to call him the most important member of the Carolina Hurricanes' roster. He's as consistent and valuable a player as the team has. The "geniuses" on the NHL Network seem to agree, naming him the 8th-best defender in the league this offseason.
Last season: 6-21-27 in 80 games/2-2-4 in the playoffs
It was a slow start to the season offensively for the defensive-minded Slavin. Through the end of 2024, Slavin had just one goal and 10 points in 37 games. He got off to a good start in 2025 with an assist and the game-winning goal against the Panthers the day after New Year's. He added a three-assist effort a few weeks later against Chicago.
Slavin really grabbed headlines when the league paused for the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. Representing the United States, the hockey community took notice of how brilliant Slavin's game is. While he didn't record any points, his efforts against Canada playing with Minnesota's Brock Faber earned the pair critical acclaim as the Americans finished in second place.
His offensive output improved during the second half, though it remained down after topping 30 last season. His numbers didn't jump off the page in the playoffs either, but both goals he scored were big. He victimized former teammate Stefan Noesen with a beautiful individual effort in Game 4 against New Jersey before scoring the overtime winner to down Washington in Game 1 of the 2nd round.
Once the season was done, Slavin finished 8th in voting for the Norris Trophy and 4th for the Lady Byng, which he'd won for the second time in 2024. While it was a down year from a production standpoint, the rest of the league learned what we'd always known. Slavin is a nightmare to play against and should be given a ton of respect for his body of work.
Bold prediction: Slavin records the best Norris finish of his career
Heading into this season, Slavin is embarking on the first year of the eight-year contract he signed at the beginning of last offseason. His new cap hit is a little over $1 million more than it has been for the last seven seasons, which is a massive deal for the Hurricanes as the cap rises. This also comes with expectations that he performs at a level greater than he has in the past.
Despite being recognized for his incredible defensive abilities, Slavin is not one to garner a ton of momentum for individual hardware. While he has won the Lady Byng twice, the Norris Trophy isn't often awarded to players with limited offensive production. His 8th-place finish last season was his best since 2020, when he finished 5th.
This feels like the season that Slavin will be in the Top 4, though there are plenty of top-tier offensive defensemen who'll dominate the scoresheet. I don't expect him to score 70-80 points. However, if he manages to push for some big numbers while maintaining his steady defensive levels, Slavin could be an appealing option for voters. It's 100 percent wishful thinking, but I can dream.
I'm also expecting to see Slavin donning the stars and stripes in Italy in February at the Olympics. He wasn't part of the Americans' first six selections, which feels a little crazy after all of the buzz he generated. Still, Slavin feels like a lock if he stays healthy heading into the games.
Maybe I'm crazy for thinking his defensive work will get him in good with the voters, but I also don't think a Norris Trophy is the only thing that could validate how great his game is. He's likely to hit 800 games this season, and we'll be celebrating his 300th point early in the year. It feels like a big season is incoming for Jaccob Slavin.